Letter of the Day: Persuade your representatives

Published: July 23, 2014

Many letters to this paper express understandable and valid frustration with the current political climate. However, too often they labor under misconceptions.

To respond to a recent example, money is, and will always be, a form of speech. For instance, whenever you buy something you are giving valuable information to that business: You like their product at that particular price. Corporations have to be treated as people as far as the U.S. Constitution is concerned. Otherwise they would have no rights, creating a potential for economic chaos from government intrusion.

The same writer, like others, also focuses on the wrong solutions. If they feel that the public’s voice is being drowned, it’s because their message is barely a trickle. So few people these days make the effort to know the issues and tell their representatives how they want them to act. It wouldn’t matter how much money a politician gets from a PAC or special interest to vote one way if he knows that if he does he will be kicked out of office.

Instead of dreaming about unrealistic amendments, how about working with groups who share your views and persuade your representatives to legislate like you want them to.